vanilla roasted pears



so i am finally in my new place, and it's wonderful.

i'll give you a mini tour soon :)

it's funny getting used to a new space.

poking around in the cupboards,

trying to remember where you put everything.

this was a great first dish to make in my kitchen.

it was easy, and yet seemed super sophisticated.

it smelled of comfort and warmth

and was perfect for a fall evening.

i mean honestly, you can't mess this up.

vanilla bean, butter, lemon juice, and pears??

it's a recipe that will warm your heart and your kitchen.

tips: make sure your pears are almost ripe.

(if they are hard, wait a couple more days)

also, i used a whole vanilla bean,

and would half the butter and double the lemon juice next time.

happy fall! :)

recipe via smitten kitchen

serves about 4

ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 vanilla bean
1 1/2 pounds slightly-under-ripe, fragrant, medium pears,

peeled if desired, halved though the stem and cored
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoon unsalted butter

directions

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. place the sugar in a small bowl.

with a thin, sharp knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise

in half and scrape out the seeds. stir the seeds into the sugar.

3. arrange the pears in a large baking dish, cut-side up.

drizzle the lemon juice evenly over the fruit, then sprinkle with the sugar.

nestle the vanilla pod among the fruit. pour the water into the dish.

dot each pear with some butter.

4. roast the pears 30 minutes brushing them occasionally with the pan juices.

turn the pears over and continue roasting, basting once or twice,

until tender and caramelized, 25 to 30 minutes longer

(if the pears are small, test for doneness after 35 or 40 minutes of cooking;

a paring knife poked into the thickest part of one should meet with no resistance).

5. serve warm, spooned with the caramelized pear drippings.

options: eat plain, enjoy with ice cream,

dollop with crème fraîche, over your morning oatmeal, etc.